Previously in Chapter 3 / Blending in
"Draco Malfoy! The only heir of the Malfoy family! Did my eyes go blind? I am certainly seeing you with some filth, since we set foot on Hogwarts grounds. Don't you think it will be more convenient for you to not let that mud transfer to your clothes or something? You will stink." Pansy was giving Hermione a very rude smirk, like she won some prize over her.
"Hello, Pansy Parkinson. I am afraid, I will be in agreement with you, I would not want any nasty mud to transfer on myself." her smirk started to grow into a huge grin until hearing Draco suggest "So I am kindly asking you to take your leave now. Off you go." while dismissively waving one hand towards the girls who were giggling, apparently knowing for what purpose Pansy approached them.
"Humph! I wonder if your father will be thinking alike with you, Malfoy! I will be more than willing to explain to him what you are getting yourself into, you know."
"Parkinson, I am afraid you are late for that. I have already informed my father, of course, considering there will be people like yourself, so eager to get their nose into other people's business. I am really not enjoying your company anymore, will you remove yourself from my sight?" with a very frustrated look on her face, Pansy Parkinson turned on her heels and walked away from them. Draco gave out a very inaudible sigh.
"You did not have to do that you know…" Hermione started, but shut up when she saw Draco's looks he was giving her. "Okay, what was it that you said, I will not be sticking my nose into your business." She said, giving up. The class was almost full now too. So they minimized their chattering as the time for Professor Snape to make an entry came close.
Chapter 4 / History re-written
While waiting for the Professor to come in, Draco thought to give Hermione a little heads up about the man.
"Try not to seem so eager to answer any of his questions. He usually asks rhetorical questions. If it is a real question addressed to the class, you can only look him in the eye, if you know the answer. And if you don't; look at his direction, but not into his eyes. Then he will not be addressing you for the answer."
"Is that… some insider information? How come?" She asked with a very small voice.
"He is my god-father. And believe me, he can be too difficult at times. Just, try and avoid answers too detailed. Just answer for what he has asked. Then you'll be okay."
Hermione just nodded to him. That was when the Professor made his entry. He wore black robes and they were dancing after him with every step. His hair was oily and long to just below his chin. He had a very serious look on his face. No smile of any kind. Without any introduction, he started with the lecture. There were no unnecessary words in his lecture. Only the necessary! It was a pleasant lecture until the two idiots from last class made another late entry to the class and put the Professor into a foul mood. The professor then, gave the black haired kid some piece of his mind and he said something about being the chosen one. It didn't make any sense to Hermione.
The class ended with another supposedly very long essay assignment. And then dismissed.
After the lunch, they had an empty period until herbology. Draco, asked Hermione if she'd like to go outside and enjoy the last bits of fall sun on the School Grounds.
"I would like that very much. And actually I wanted to ask you about something when we had a little privacy. It is hard to ask stuff to you with all the people around us." Her eyes were shining so bright. Draco couldn't help but smile.
"Wonderful. Let's go then."
After they were seated on a bench on the grounds, facing some goblins, Draco turned to Hermione.
"You wanted to ask me about something?"
"Oh, yes, it's about earlier in the potions… Professor Snape said something about being the chosen one to that unfortunate fellow from Gryffindor. What did he mean?"
"Oh, that… "Draco paused for a second in search of suitable words to explain the story. "About 20 years ago, there was a Dark Wizard called" he paused again "Voldemort" he whispered the name "He was trying to run this world with his followers whom called themselves 'Death Eaters'. Then for some reason, he tried to kill a new-born kid but was not successful and he vanished instead, while the boy survived. He also killed the boy's parents. So nobody knows where he was until now. I heard from father that, his parents were participating in a group against that Dark Lord too. So, he thinks, he was only after the family but for some reason, was not able to kill the boy. The boy's name is Harry Potter and he is kind of a hero for many of the children our age. We practically grew up with tales of his. He's a legend."
Draco checked Hermione's expression, to see if it all sank in for her yet.
"So HE is Harry Potter. I don't remember his name called in the sorting ceremony yesterday."
"He was just after you. So when he was called, you were walking through our table. It is only normal for you not to notice. The name wasn't even significant to you back then."
"You are right" Hermione said. "Well, I personally think, he has to stop being late to lectures. Or he will be having a very bad start to his career."
"I completely agree. But perhaps, it is difficult for him to walk through the castle and find places. Not everyone has a personal guide with them you know…" Draco turned left and winked with a gorgeous smile to her.
"Actually, I was wondering, Draco. How come you know Hogwarts so well? You seem to be aware of every shortcut and secret passages and things like that are not mentioned in Hogwarts: A History... Have you been here with Professor Snape before?" she asked. Draco chuckled to that.
"Oh! Not really, I wasn't let in the Castle before... But I have a little secret." he said with a smirk.
"Should I not ask what it is?" Hermione said with a calm voice.
"Well, you will get involved with Malfoy Family Secrets if you do. You will be left in the dark if you don't. Choose at your own risk." he said. Stil having the smirk on his face.
Hermione paused for a moment, she was chewing on her bottom lip and twrilling a block of hair between her fingers. Draco recognized that she did this today in class as well.
"Well, I suppose I would like to know... If you, being a child of same age with me, can handle with the information, I will probably be able to handle it as well, somehow, I guess..." she said. Draco laughed a genuine smile.
"It's not that big of a secret... I have a map." he smiled. "My Godfather had prepared it when he was in the school. Being the shadow he is, is not easy afterall. He said that, he started maping out from the dungeons. Then he did almost all Castle. He charmed it. So, when you touch it with your wand and say "shadow me through" while thinking about your destination and it is connected then, with your vision and shows you the way where less people are inhabiting, allowing you to become the shadow." he smiled. "It is a piece of parchment, really, I am always worried to lose it. He gave the map to me this summer, said that, I will be needing it more now that he practically memorized all Castle and being a Professor, he doesn't need to be unseen anymore."
"Wow!" Hermione said with enlarged eyes. "I am one lucky witch to have you then." She stated, returning his smile. "Thank you for sharing your secret with me Draco." after sitting there in silence for some time, she started talking again. "It became chilly though, we still have one hour before the next class and I really want to start on the Transfiguration essay. I am excited to find the library."
Draco smirked. "And here I was wondering if you'd never ask! I am eager to start and we don't really have much time… Shall we?" Draco asked getting up and leading the way.
Their days and nights continued to go on like that. Going to classes, going to library... Slytherin House was difficult to be in. People had prejudice. Not only towards the Muggleborn, towards the Malfoy heir as well... Draco wondered if this was what was connecting them together. It was easy being around Hermione. He didn't need to appeal, he didn't need to explain, he didn't need to gain her trust. Their friendship was effortless, usually wordless. It was natural.
One day, around one month into their debut in the School, they were -again- in the library, working on their transfiguration essay, seated themselves on one of the tables in the library. Sometimes Draco would show some useful remark, sometimes Hermione would refer from their textbook to fill in the blank information. They were having fun actually, working on the essay and that was no ordinary thing for any 11 year-old child. Once they started feeling tired, Hermione suggested leaving for their Common Room. Draco gladly accepted the offer. On their way, selecting the corridors which were empty so they had some privacy.
"If you would not mind, Draco, I would like to ask you a question, which I believe could be considered quite personal. So if you would not like to, you can chose not to answer, no hard feelings. Though, I am really curious." Draco was surprised. But wondered what it was that she wanted to ask him.
"Well, I am then keeping my right to decline to answer but, ask it away."
"Well, I know it might sound even rude, which is not my intention at all…" she paused, "But, what is it like, being the heir, the only heir of a very powerful family? To my eyes, you look extremely mature for our years. Was it tough growing up?" She was visibly nervous. Draco smiled. It was usually a very uncomfortable topic for him to discuss. But coming from Hermione, he felt the genuine warmth, because this question meant that she cared for his circumstances. And he somehow knew that she was not judgemental, only curious. If Parkinson girl asked the same question, he would have made her cry. But he answered Hermione in all his honesty.
"In my household, the heir is raised to live up to the traditions and qualities of our family. You should know etiquette. You should hold your manners no matter the situation. You should hold your self-control. You should be graceful. Since many people will be looking up to you, you should not misguide them. This is why, I have been receiving education on various subjects under quite intense schedule, I suppose, from the day I started walking. My mother and father are very serious people and they have their own ways of showing their love towards me. I appreciate them so deeply." He paused for a moment when some upper classes walked past them.
"For example, it is very precious for me, when I ask for information or a enter into a discussion with my father and when he answers me like he would an adult. This is the way of him showing me that he holds respect to my brains and my personality. Sometimes, he would ask for my instinctual thoughts on some matters he has to decide about work. He says, since as a child I do not hold prejudice on matters, it is easier for me to see the clear picture. Those kinds of exchange with my Father are so precious to me." Hermione looked in awe.
"Your father asks you to decide on business matters?" she was surprised. Usually, her parents would not even let her hear what they were discussing about. "That should make you feel wonderful."
"It does, actually." He smiled shyly.
"But is it not also putting up some pressure on your shoulders? I mean, it is a lot of responsibility, for you to be deciding on those important matters, which could cause people out of their jobs!"
"I do feel the pressure. But I will be running that business in a matter of years, so I will be required to be able to endure that level of stress, in a daily basis. It is some kind of a practise to warm me up to the responsibility. Usually, my choices would reflect father's opinions. So I haven't yet screwed up."
"And what about your mother?" Hermione continued her questions.
"I respect my mother so much. She is a brilliant witch. Most people think she is living in a fairy tale, in reality, she is very hard-working. She helps father with business matters, while also managing our house. She is beautiful, graceful and forgiving. She has a warm heart and her first impressions on people are usually so correct, it might scare you sometimes… My father is a very lucky man. And he knows that. My mother's approach towards me has always been so loving and caring, I feel blessed."
"You are so mature…" Hermione mumbled. Draco checked his watch and they hurried their way to their Common room, it was almost the end of curfew.
Their days had continued in accordance with their schedule. They would go and attend their lessons, they would prepare their assignments, they would read books, if they would have any spare time and in between, they would have some informative small talks with each-other, learning about their lives before Hogwarts.
Draco couldn't turn a blind eye on Hermione's brilliance. She was very quick to adapt, she was very quick to understand. She was a wonderful researcher. And she was kind and knew how to hold her manners, well, most of the time at least.
It was after about two months in the start of the semester that they had an unfortunate encounter with Harry Potter and his ginger friend, while trying to get into the Great Hall for dinner, The ginger-headed boy made a fool of himself by stepping on a piece of parchment and somehow managing to fall outragously next to Rawenclaw table in the Great hall, kicking some chicken stew all over himself, including his hair. Draco and Hermione couldn't help but laugh out loud at his foolishness along with everyone in the Hall.
"What is your problem MALFOY?" the boy spat. Rising from the floor and getting closer to Draco… Draco felt his blood starting to boil up, since he wasn't the only one laughing at him, practically every single soul, including the house ghosts, were laughing at him at that point. "Does the wealth of your father give you the right to make fun of the unfortunate?" he added with obvious disgust and hatred present in his eyes.
"Look, Weasley. I laughed, because you are constantly finding something to make a fool out of yourself with so much ease, that I will come to a conclusion that you actually enjoy being a fool. It has nothing to do with my family's wealth. It is only about one's intelligence. You should look up to your brother Percy, I suppose, being the Perfect he is, he certainly must have some intelligence." He sighed. "you have no reason to hold grudge towards the wealth of my family. It is not our fault that your parents decided to give birth to so many children than they could actually afford! Get a hold on yourself. It most certainly has nothing to do with me." Draco's face was expressionless all the time and his voice sturdy. But Hermione can sense his irritation vibrating through all of his presence.
"I will show you what one gets for badmouthing my family you prat!" the Weasley boy shouted with a face as red as a beet and reached his wand out. He was thinking to hex Draco. Hermione reacted faster than she thought she was capable of. She drew her wand, and immediately casted a wonderful shield from a 3rd year-level DADA book she read in the library, between Draco and the Weasley, she took Draco's hand and put her head higher than she usually did.
"Weasley, you should stop with your stupidity already! You are trying to pick up a fight… Fight you will get if you shoot even the slightest tickling hex at him!" Hermione said with a voice, which could not have been any calmer than it already was. Ron hesitated. At that point, pretty much every first year knew how Hermione Granger was better at everything than any of them - almost.
Harry Potter, who was watching silently on what was going on without any interruption till that point, rose from his seat nearby and pulled on the slave of Weasley's cloak. He said "Come on Ron, they actually have a point. You should calm yourself. They did nothing other than laughing and for Godric's sake, even I was laughing…" Ron shot a glace at his friend as if he wished to set him on fire. "What?!" Harry reasoned "It WAS funny…" after a short pause to compose his facial features into a soft, caring glance, he added. "C'mon Ron…" and with that he dragged Ron out of the Great Hall, with a backwards glance towards Draco and Hermione and muttering a silent "Sorry" without Ron realizing.
Draco stood there, speechless. Looking in bewilderment to Hermione… What had just happened? He could not even stay angry to Ronald Weasley! Thanks to him, Draco was able to recognize just one other wonderfully charming fact about this Hermione Granger! He could understand why the sorting hat had difficulties deciding between Slytherin and Gryffindor… She was brave and royal, while she also was intelligent, cunning, resourceful AND ambitious! She was a GEM and she WAS dangerous in the best possible way. His heart started pumping too fast, his hands were trembling. He looked down at them, at last. Finally, looked up at Hermione.
"Let's eat! I'm starving." Was all he could dare to say.
PS: This chapter is updated!
Also, I want to give huge thanks again to Lun27! The story will be taking another curve from Chapter 5. Thank you for your wonderful inspiration!
Thanks for all the lovely comments, follows and faves. They keep me going.